Cuttlebug Ceramic Lantern Tutorial (paint fresco variation)

...can't decide which was the most fun in making this:
Sewing on itty-bitty tassels or the texture. It's gotta be a tie.

This card uses the same process as the last tutorial (linked at the bottom of this post)...but it adds sanding and heat embossing (with a Versamarker & clear embossing powder) over the colour as a finishing touch. It all combines to give you some funky texture!

It started out as this...embossed 100lb Bristol paper...



...and with some Copics, paint, sanding &
heat embossing... it ended up being ceramic...

...with lots of bold colour...
(unusual for colour-chicken me) ;o)

...and scritchy scatchy shiny texture...

It all ended up on a box....

...with a beaded border...
(box template coming soon to a blog near you.) ;o)

1...how to do the bold sanded freso technique (Ceramic lanterns)
2...cheap tricks: upside down artsy brain

If the flickr photos don't load for you, you can
click these Blogger photos to see the texture
really CLOSE up:









I had an absolute riot trying this out. I just wish you could come over
to my house & see the texture in person. :o)

-1-

Bold sanded freso Ceramic lanterns
(Cuttlebug embossing & Copics...
with paint & heat embossing)

The process to get this particular glassy ceramic look has a good number of steps, but of course if you didn't want to go to such lengths you could stop at any one point in the process: stop at just plain colouring the raised embossing, or stop after swiping the coloured embossing with paint...etc. :O)



A) Emboss a piece of cardstock in a Cuttlebug folder
B) Colour it with Copic markers (or another method)
C) Apply paint to a cardstock scrap; swipe it over the colouring
D) Fill in any missed areas with paint on a brush
E) Sand paint off the coloured areas & clean the dust off
F) Add a wash (coloured ink & water) to the background
G) Heat emboss (in clear) over the image for shine
H) Add more paint wash to the background

• Strong White cardstock (I used Strathmore Bristol Vellum 100 pound--holds up nicely to the messing around.)
• An embossing folder--this is one of new Provo Craft Asian line called "Lanterns" It's an A2 Emboss size folder. You can see all the folders here on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog.
• Copic markers (or another colour method, but please consider testing some with your paint to be sure it doesn't smudge too much on you.) ;O)
• White acrylic paint, scraps of cardstock to spread it, paint brush
  
• 150 grit sand paper & a dust cloth
  
• Distress inks (Peeled Paint & Antique Linen) & water
• Versamarker, Clear embossing powder, Heat gun
• Paper piercer, needle, embroidery thread, seed beads
  

You can click any of these tutorial photos to see the texture close up
(Just hit back in your browser to return to this post) :o)



Step 1) Emboss --I used the new Provo Craft lantern folder & Strathmore Bristol Vellum 100 pound (it holds up nicely to the messing around.)



Step 2) Colour the Cuttlebug embossing with Copic markers.



Step 3) Put some white acrylic paint onto a scrap of cardstock (along one flat edge.) Any scraps will do, but thicker cardstock holds up to this well (80lb+)



Step 4) Use a second piece of cardstock to spread the paint out, thinly.



Step 5) Swipe the paint over the coloured embossing. Apply the paint as thinly or thickly as you like. Paint which is rather runny will cover a lot of the colour. I feel that paint which is thick (so that it holds its shape) is nice.



Step 6) Fill in any dark or missed areas with white paint on a brush. (Add a little water if you think it needs it.)



Step 7) If you would like to see more colour (and get great texture) sand some of the raised embossed areas. Please Note: You might want to clean the sandpaper periodically to prevent smeared colour. I used 150 grit sand paper, but any should do...



Step 8) Clean the sanding dust off of the image (This is a cut up bit of a Swiffer floor cloth. Love it!)



Step 9) Apply a wash of coloured ink. This is a mix of Distress inks (Peeled Paint & Antique Linen.) It's mixed with white paint that has been watered down a fair bit.



Step 10) Heat emboss over the image in clear:

A) Cover the lanterns & strings with Versamarker
B) Sprinkle on clear embossing powder.
C) Brush off excess powder with a clean paint brush.
D) Melt the powder with a heat gun.
E) Repeat the process until you're happy with the coverage.
(I did this clear embossing twice.)

No need to worry about stray powder to much, since it will add even more texture in this next step...



Step 11) Add another wash of white paint.



Step 12) Embellish with a bit of hand sewing: Pierce and stitch & knot the image. To create mini tassels, let the thread hang down the front in places & cut it. *giggle giggle giggle* You can add a teensy dot of Crystal lacquer to secure the threads well. :o)

-2-

(my brain is upside down, right?)

Flip your image & work upside down. This engages the right (artistic)
hemisphere of your brain, so that you can judge the overall effect--or balance--of your background more easily.

and th-th-th-th-that's all folks...

Thanks for taking time out of your busy day!


P.S. The faster, softer-looking version of this
Copics & paint technique is here:

...the newest challenge is still on at the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog here
& You can donate to help aid the Haitian people here.

(click to visit me from an email or reader)